TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The nation’s largest communication scholars association has ranked The University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences’ doctoral program in mass communication seventh nationally.

The National Communication Association’s reputational rankings are based on survey responses from communication faculty nationwide, who rated programs according to the scholarly quality of its faculty, its effectiveness in educating researchers, and its change in quality over the past five years.

“We have known for some time that our doctoral program ranks near the top,” said Dr. E. Culpepper Clark, dean of the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences. “Independent studies of research productivity and the number of doctorates awarded have found us anywhere from sixth to second, depending upon year.

“The overall ranking of seventh by the National Communication Association is an impressive tribute to the talent that has been assembled in the College of Communication and Information Sciences,” Clark said. “This particular ‘top 10,’ as established by the largest association of communication scholars, truly places us among an elite group of institutions that feature mass communication education and research.”

Atop the list was the University of Pennsylvania, followed by Stanford, Michigan State, Southern California, University of Wisconsin, University of Texas, The University of Alabama, Pennsylvania State, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and, rounding out the top 10, Ohio State.

Others listed in the top 30 from the Southeast included: the University of North Carolina, 13th; Florida State, 26th; and the University of Kentucky, 29th.

This new study marks the first time since 1996 that the National Communication Association has ranked communication doctoral programs.